Americans Don't Know Much About Religion (especially the religious)

[Umos-Cmos]

The Fury said:

Joelcool7 said:

Umos-Cmos said:

Were you implying that Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons aren't christian?  Just needed some clarification.

Christian means that you believe the Bible is the absolute word of God, both Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have seperate Holy Books. Mormon's believe their book supercedes the Bible and Jehovahs have various non-Biblical views in their texts.

This is what I mean, today any cult or belief can say they believe Jesus existed and suddenly they are Christian. The Bible is fundamental to the Christian faith. You cannot believe the Bible to be anything but the 100% word of God while calling yourself a Christian.

I've had tons of theological debates with Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses, they are seperate faiths altogether. Muslims believe in Jesus does that make Islamic believers Christians?

Everyone these days calls themselves Christians. When I was in school their was a whole group who called themselves Christians. However they didn't know anything about Jesus or the Bible, infact most told me they never even picked up a Bible. While others said they were Christian because they were born to two Christians. People these days think their Christian just because their parents were. Christianity is not a race, its not only a belief that Jesus existed. Its the following and belief that the Bible is the word of God and that Christ Jesus died on the cross to free us from our sinful natures.

Again I have to say Sikh's also believe Jesus existed, are they Christian now too? How about Jews many believe that Jesus existed, are they Christian? Why don't we just grab everyone who believes Jesus existed and lump them all into one catagory.

Heck everyones Christian these days, out of those people questioned how many of them are actually serious about their beliefs. How many are legit followers of Christ?

To believe in Christ as the son of God is to be Christian not just the Bible. Mormons are Christians, just they have an extra book which they believe is the also the word of God but they still believe in Christ as the son of God and follow the teachings of the Bible.

Sikhism, Islam and many other religions believe that Jesus existed but they do not class him as the son of God (or God himself). They mainly believe in him as a prophet.

But like you say many class themselves as Christian because their parents did. This I agree with you on but even if they believe that Jesus was the son of God and have faith in him, whether or not they read the Bible, then who are you to deny them their religion? 

The Fury is correct.  The Bible is not superceded by the Book of Mormon.  They are companion scriptures written by holy men of god (prophets) from different regions of the world.  @joelcool7.  I'm not sure why God speaking to other people in other parts of the world and commanding them to write it down is such a hard concept to swallow.  We know for a fact that the Bible doesn't contain every word that god has ever given to man.  The Bible as we have it today is a selection of prophetic writings (books) by men centuries after Jesus established his original church.

I believe that God still speaks to us today through his holy prophets and apostles just as he always has throughout the history of the world.  Why would he not speak directly to us today?  Why should the foundations of his church look different today than the New Testament church he established?  The answer is it shouldn't.  Afterall, you believe God "is the same yesterday, today, and forever" correct?

I do agree with you that Mormons are not your typical Christians.  Mormons believe that Christ personally restored his church in 1830 thus making it a "restored" church and not a "reformed" church.  This doctrine and event has been prophesied in the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Isaiah spoke in depth about it. (Isaiah 29: 8-14)

In the new testament we learn that Christ will be sent to the earth again to restore all things.  Why would he need to come and restore all things if there was never anything (doctrines, ordinances) lost?  Answer: Precious doctines and ordinances were lost.
"19 ¶ aRepent ye therefore, and be bconverted, that your sins may be cblotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the dpresence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send aJesus Christ, which before was preached unto byou:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of arestitution of all things, which God hath bspoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3: 19-21)

I believe all men should be free to worship how or what they may, but I just wanted to clarify falsehoods about the "Mormon" faith. Sorry for such a long post but to make my point it was necessary.  If you want to know  what Mormons REALLY believe go here.

I appreciate thoughtful comments.  No hate please.